Land-marker.



R. H. BLAND.

LAND MARKER. APPLICATION man Auaao. Isle.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

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LAND MARKER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, I9I6.

1,209,543. Patented 1190.191916.

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:aoYAL H. BLAND, or TAYLOR, rEXAs.

LAND-MARKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Appli-cation filed August 30, 1916. Serial N o. 117,732. p

To all whom t may concern: e

`Be it known that I, ROYAL H. BLAND,`a citizen of the United States, residing at Taylor, in they county ofWilliamson and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Land-Markers, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to land markers, and it has for its object to producela' ma'- chine of simple andimproved construction whereby, by a single passage over the field, a plurality of rows may be laid off or` marked in the ground to serve as'guides for subsequent operations such as planting. e

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and improved land marker including a carrying frame `having a plurality of marking elements, suitable connecting means for the same, and means whereby the said marking elements may be adjusted vertically and laterally. j

A further object ofthe invention `is to simplify and improve the vdetailed construction and operation of the parts of the device;

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the `invention. is better understood the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In'the accompanyingdrawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made tothe precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications withinthe scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a top plan View of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation. Fig. 5 is a'rear elevation. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 6--6 in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the standard.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

, The frame of the machine includes the axle bar`15, the side members 16 and the frontbar 17, each of which may be constructed of angle iron or steel, said frame beingsuitably reinforced at the front corners thereof by braces 1S. Connected with the axle bar 15 is a socket 19 for the reception of the rearward end of the tongue 20, which latter issupported on the front bar 17 where it is retained by a strap or keeper 21, the` evener 22 being connected therewith by a vertical bolt 23 and a hammerstrap 24:. The evener may be equipped for the attachment of the desired number of draft animals. 1

'The axle bar 15 is provided with bearings 25 for'the axle members 26, each havinga crank 27 equipped with a spindle 28 on which a ground wheel 29 is mounted for rotation.

Connected with thefront bar 17 is a supporting member S, the same consisting of a rod or bar of metal, such as steel or iron, which isbent to produce a plurality of yokes or stirrups `30 that extend downwardly with respect to the front bar 17, the supporting memberS including also a pair of terminal arms 31 having spindles 32. The spindles 32 are disposedin alinement with the bridge pieces 33 of the stirrups or yokes 30, the yokes with their `bridge pieces and the arms with their spindles being all disposed in a substantially vertical plane. Braces 341- connect the spindles 32 and the bridge pieces 33 with the axle bar 15, thereby serving to maintain the supporting member S station ary with respect to the frame structure. The connecting bars C are pivoted on the spindles `32 adjacent to the outer ends thereof, said connecting bars being provided with cuil'sengaging the spindles 38 on the cranks of the axle members 26, the hubs of the wheels 29 beingmounted for rotation on said cuffs. Eachof the connecting bars C is composed of two members 35 adjustably connected together by means of bolts 36 for the `passage of which each of the members 35 is provided with a plurality of apertures 35. It will be seen that by proper adjustment of the members 35 of the connecting bars C the wheelcarrying crank 27 at each side of the machine may be moved in an arc, thereby enabling relative vertical adjustment to be effected between the wheels of the frame structure, enabling the frame structure to be supported at varying distances above the ground.

The supporting member S, as will be seen,

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includes the spindles 32 and the bridge pieces 33, each of' said bridge pieces and spindles serving for the attachment of a coupling member 37. Each coupling member includes a sleeve 38 pivotally engaging the spindle or the bridge piece on which it is mounted, as the case may be., each coupling member being capable of swinging in a substantially vertical plane about the axis of the spindle or bridge piece on which it is mounted,

The coupling members 37 serve for the attachment of the beams 39, each beam being pivotally connected with its respective cou.- pling member by a vertical pivot member 40, enabling the beam to swing` in a substantially horizontal plane with respect to the coupling` member and giving' the beam universal freedom of movement with respect to the supporting member S. Each beam is equipped with a standard 41 carrying a marking element 42, and the beams are serially connected together by a cross bar 43 with which each of the beams is connected by a pivot member 44, so that the lateral swinging movement of the beams will not be interfered with, the cross bar 43 serving mainly to preserve the beams in parallel relation with respect to each other. Each standard 41 is preferably equipped with a break joint 41', as will be best seen in Fig. 7 of the drawings, said break joint including a pivot member 42 and a break pin 43', thereby avoiding such injury as would be liable to be caused if a solidly constructed standard should strike a rock, stump or other obstruction. A vertically disposed rock shaft 45V which is journaled in the rearward portion of the tongue 20 is provided at its upper end with a hand lever 46 whereby it may be manipulated, said hand lever having a stop member 47 adapted to engage a notched segment 48 whereby the lever and related parts may be secured in adjusted position. The rock shaft 45 has at its lower end a radial arm 49 which is connected by flexible elements, such as chains 50, with the ends of the cross bar 43. It will be seen that by manipulating the lever 46 the beams 39 may be simultaneously swung or adjusted in an approximately horizontal plane. The lever 46 is arranged in convenient proximity to the drivers seat 5 1, and some of the bea-ms have been shown as being provided with foot rests 52.

Supported in bearings on the axle bar 15 is a rock shaft 53 which may extend substantially the length of the axle bar and of which is connected by a liexible element 55 with one of the beams 39. The flexible element is preferably composed of a chain, some of the links of which have been replaced by a short spring 55', whereby the beam will be supported with some degree of resiliency that will enable the beam to have proper freedom of movement. The rock shaft 53 also has a hand lever 56 equipped with a stop member 57 engaging a ratchet segment 58. lt will be seen that by manipulating the lever 56 the beams carrying the marking elements may be moved or adjusted vertically and that by the stop member associated with the lever and engaging the ratchet segment 5S the said beams may be supported at various adjustments.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantagesof this invention will be readily understood. By drawing the machine over the field the marking elements may be utilized to form furrows of Vsuch depthv as may be required, the field being thus marked or laid out as desired. a straight line, the marking elements may be adjusted laterally to any required extent.V

Should the machine deviate from The marking elements may also thus be Y guided to avoid obstructions in the path thereof. f

The general construction of the machine is simple and inexpensive; and it has been found to be thoroughly convenient anduseful for the purposes for whichit is provided.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is l 1. In a machine of the class described, a wheeled frame structure, a supporting member rigidly connected therewith and including a plurality of bridge pieces and spindles, coupling members pivoted on the bridge pieces and spindles, each for swinging movement in a vertical plane, beams having standards equipped with marking elements, and vertical pivots connecting Vthe beams with the coupling members.

2. In a machine of the class described, a wheeled frame structure, a supporting member rigidly connected therewith and including a plurality of bridgepieces and spindles,

coupling members pivoted on the bridge pieces and spindles, each'for swinging movement in a vertical plane, beams having standards equipped with marking elements, vertical pivots connecting the beams with the coupling members, anda cross bar with which each ofthe beams is pivotally connected with the front bar and including a plu 1ality of bridge pieces and spindles arranged in substantial axial alinement, brace rods conneetingthe bridge pieces and spindles with the axle bar, axle, members journaled on the axle bar and having cranks each provided with a wheel carrying spindle, andbars pivoted on the spindles of the supporting members each of said bars having a plurality of apertures, one of Which engages one of the Wheel carrying spindles.

4. In a machine of the class described, a frame including an axle bar, side members and a front bar, a supporting member connected With the front bar and including a plurality of bridge pieces and,v spindles arranged in substantial axial alinement,`

brace rods connecting the bridge pieces and spindles with the axle bar, axle members journaled on the axle bar and having cranks each provided With a Wheel carrying spindle,

v Uopiesof this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington.` D. C, 

